By Adam Varga
Have you ever found yourself rushing to get ready for school, and you hop in your car with just a few minutes to spare before the first bell rings only to find your windshield frozen over, or even worse your car just won’t start? This and similar situations are far more common than some may think, and the most common reason for them is people not knowing how to take care of their car properly. The Current OC is here to give you a few tips and reminders on how to keep up with your car’s maintenance during the winter season.
To deal with the aforementioned windshield issue, the most helpful advice is to turn your car on about 10 minutes before you plan on leaving in order for it to heat up enough to let the ice either melt away or be soft enough to use an ice scraper and clear it off yourself. In addition to the windshield, it is also important to protect your windshield wipers and check the wiper fluid. If you park outdoors, leave the wipers in the raised position to prevent them from freezing to the windshield. Never use your wiper blades to remove ice, snow or frost from the windshield; use an ice scraper instead.
It is important to make sure your defroster, heater as well as your antifreeze/coolant tank are in good condition before the cold starts to set in. Antifreeze does not need to be replaced often, so just make sure that your tank has plenty to get through the winter, a frozen engine will do you no good on the road.